The Alia effect: How Bollywood learnt to laugh at itself

Earlier this year, one of the highlights of Karan Johar’s chat show was the episode featuring Alia Bhatt. As part of the show, when she was asked who the President of India is, she said “Prithviraj Chauhan (sic)”. It sparked off several jokes on social media.

Now, Alia has drawn attention back to the incident by featuring in a 10-minute spoof video made by the comedy collective, AIB. Alia says, “I hope I can entertain”, adding that she believes in “laughing at myself”. But Alia’s not the only one who is capable of mocking herself.

Spoofed outLast year, a spoof was made on the defiance of the laws of physics in director Rohit Shetty’s films. Reportedly, after seeing it, Rohit said that he would have loved to be part of it. Now, singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan’s popular song, Breathless, too, has inspired a funny version — the lyrics have been changed to introduce the line-up of an upcoming musical festival. Shankar says, “I’m dying to see it. I hope that we all learn to appreciate humour and laugh at ourselves.”

Not so seriousDuring interviews, too, some Bollywood actors have realised that it’s better to say something funny rather than get upset. Katrina Kaif, referring to the infamous bikini images of her from Ibiza, told PTI, “Next time when you all plan to take pictures, give me a notice. Red doesn’t look good with white... I’ll wear matching next. (sic)”

Tiger Shroff, too, reacted sportingly to all the jokes around his looks — especially the comparisons with Kareena Kapoor Khan. “I take it as a compliment to be compared to a woman as pretty as Kareena,” he had told us.

Earlier this month, Saif Ali Khan was embroiled in a Padma Shri controversy (after an activist demanded the actor be stripped of the honour). Later, the actor made a tongue-in-cheek remark, stating, “Are they rethinking my Padma Shri because I did Humshakals (the film came under a lot of criticism for Saif)?”

Aamir Khan, too, reacted to the nude poster for PK, saying, “In the second poster, I’m not even holding a radio.”